-LRB- CNN -RRB- -- The church where Colleen Ritzer 's family worshiped was filled with mourners for the slain Massachusetts math teacher 's funeral Monday .

`` You can see the effect she has had and how the community has bonded together to commemorate and celebrate Colleen 's life , '' Ritzer 's cousin , Gina McDaniel , said in her eulogy .

About 400 Danvers High School students were among the estimated 1,000 people who gathered to pay final respects to Ritzer , who was killed allegedly by one of her own students -- 14-year-old Philip Chism -- a week earlier .

`` Colleen loved her brother and sister very much and always did her best to be a sister , friend , and mentor to them , '' McDaniel said . `` She is the daughter that every parent hopes their children will become once they grow up . ''

Many mourners wore pink clothing -- Ritzer 's favorite color -- and pink flowers decorated the outside of Andover 's St. Augustine Church .

`` Colleen 's gift was that of inspiration , '' McDaniel said . `` In such a short period of time , one person has made a world of difference . ''

The Rev. Peter G. Gori , in his homily , offered advice on how to approach Ritzer 's death . Â `` Perhaps we should ask not why , or even how she died , but rather why and how did she live , '' Gori said .

Ritzer 's parents , brother and sister followed the hearse to a private burial for family and close friends .

Ritzer , 24 , was found dead in woods near the campus where she taught Tuesday morning . Authorities are still investigating the motive for her killing .

Documents filed in a Tennessee court 12 years ago may shed light on Chism 's past . The documents showed that Chism 's father agreed during a separation from his mother to have restricted time with his son , who was then 2 , because of `` prior physical and emotional abuse as well as alcohol abuse . ''

The documents , however , said the parents were attempting to reconcile .

Chism 's uncle , Terrence Chism Blaine , told CNN that the boy 's parents are now separated and that the father -- a former military man -- now lives in Florida .

Blaine told CNN affiliate WKRN in Nashville , Tennessee , last week that something may have provoked his nephew . `` Might could have been upset , '' Blaine said . `` You know -- teenagers go through that . He 's 14 , he 's growing up still . That 's the only thing that I can imagine . I ca n't imagine anything else because he 's like a storybook kid -- a perfect family . ''

Chism 's mother , Diana Chism , released a statement through her son 's attorney saying her `` heart is broken for the Ritzer family and the loss of their daughter and sister Colleen Ritzer . ''

`` Her son was born in love and is dear to her , very dear , '' the statement said . `` She is struggling to understand this . ''

CNN 's Sheila Steffen and Chris Boyette contributed to this report .

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400 students were among the estimated 1,000 people at Colleen Ritzer 's funeral

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`` Colleen 's gift was that of inspiration , '' her cousin said in a eulogy

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The math teacher was allegedly killed by one of her students last week